Dictionary

solemn en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /ˈsɑləm/ (General-American)
• /ˈsɒləm/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English solempne, solemne (“performed with religious ceremony or reverence; devoted to religious observances, sacred; ceremonious, formal; of a vow: made under a religious sanction, binding; religious celebration, celebration of a feast day; famous, well-known; important; grand, imposing; awe-inspiring, impressive; grave, serious; dignified; enunciated or held formally”) [and other forms], from Old French solempne, solemne (“serious, solemn”) [and other forms], or from its etymon Late Latin sōlempnis, sōlennis, from Latin sōlemnis, from sollemnis (“appointed, established, fixed; common, customary, ordinary, ritual, traditional, usual; ceremonial, religious, solemn; festive; annual, yearly”) [and other forms]. The further etymology is uncertain; sollus (“entire, whole”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (“whole”)) + epulum (“banquet, feast”) (in the sense of a ritual; perhaps ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ed- (“to eat”)) has been suggested.

Meanings

1. (specifically) Of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites; (generally) religious in nature; sacred.
2. (broadly) Characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality.
   • Whereas the accentuated linearism, the angular stylization of the folds, the rhythmical course of the outlining and the solemn frontality conjoined with an air of regality in the pose seem to recall the formal repertory of the Corbolinus Master and his group […] 1993, Miklós Boskovits, The Origins of Florentine Painting, 1100-1270, volume 1, page 33:
3. (broadly) Deeply serious and sombre; grave.
4. (broadly) Inspiring serious feelings or thoughts; sombrely impressive.
5. (broadly, obsolete) Cheerless, gloomy, sombre.

Forms

Antonyms

lighthearted · blissed out · giddy · gleeful · unserious · air-headed · exultant · elated · enrapt · over the moon · blissful · filled with happiness · orgasmic · cheerful · ecstatic · rapt · greatly pleased · on cloud nine · lighthearted · joyful · walking on air · delighted · cock-a-hoop · gladsome · thrilled · overjoyed · euphoric · joyous

Deriveds

solemniously · solemn vow · solemnsides · ultrasolemn · solemnness · supersolemn · lodge solemn representation · solemnly · oversolemn · semisolemn · solemnify · solemncholy · unsolemn · solemn mass

Relateds

solemnising · solemnity · solemnize · solemnise · solemnizer · solemniser · solemnisation · solemnization · solemnizing

Synonyms

lack-laughter · drear · somber · no joke · gloomy · weightsome · somber · grievous · uncheery · dreich · unhappy · sombre · frightful · grave · bleak · drearisome · comfortless · wintry · unmerry · sober · sweer · gray · dismal · weighty · forlorn · spiritless · stern · sombre · sage · morose · mirthless · dark · gayless · awe-inspiring · serious · dire · lack-laughter · disconsolate · solemn · solemn · cheerless · doleful · sad · dolesome · uncheerful · solemncholy · depressing · gloomsome · woeful · saturnine · desolate · staid · joyless · saturnine · melancholy · sullen · demure · miserable · grim · sedate · austere · thoughtful · sunless · dreary · lugubrious · earnest

Translations (70)

mk све́чен (of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites) · ko 숙연하다 (deeply serious and sombre) · da højtidelig (religious in nature — see also sacred) · gd sòlaimte (of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites) · oc solemne (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · bg церемониален (of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites) · fi synkkä (cheerless, gloomy, sombre — see also cheerless, gloomy, sombre) · de ernst (deeply serious and sombre) · gd sòlaimte (inspiring serious feelings or thoughts; sombrely impressive) · mk свет (religious in nature — see also sacred) · la solemnis (deeply serious and sombre) · mi pouruuru (cheerless, gloomy, sombre — see also cheerless, gloomy, sombre) · it solenne (deeply serious and sombre) · de feierlich (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · sh свѐчан (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · mi pononga (deeply serious and sombre) · sh svečan (of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites) · pl uroczysty (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · nl ernstig (deeply serious and sombre) · es solemne (deeply serious and sombre) · mi taumaha (deeply serious and sombre) · bg тържествен (deeply serious and sombre) · fi pyhä (religious in nature — see also sacred) · eo solena (deeply serious and sombre) · ro solemn (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · fi juhlallinen (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · af plegtig (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · bg церемониален (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · ka საზეიმო (of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites) · nl plechtig (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · sv högtidlig (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · ru свяще́нный (religious in nature — see also sacred) · sv allvarlig (deeply serious and sombre) · gd sòlaimte (deeply serious and sombre) · fi juhlava (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · gd sòlaimte (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · uk урочи́стий (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · sh svečan (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · fi vakava (deeply serious and sombre) · gd stòlda (deeply serious and sombre) · fr solennel (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · pt solene (deeply serious and sombre) · mk све́чен (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · es solemne (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · sv dyster (cheerless, gloomy, sombre — see also cheerless, gloomy, sombre) · ru серьёзный (deeply serious and sombre) · fi ankea (cheerless, gloomy, sombre — see also cheerless, gloomy, sombre) · sv ceremoniell (of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites) · bg официален (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · hy հանդիսական (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · mk тр́жествен (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · mk серио́зен (deeply serious and sombre) · la solemnis (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · pt solene (inspiring serious feelings or thoughts; sombrely impressive) · ca solemne (deeply serious and sombre) · it solenne (of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites) · ro serios (deeply serious and sombre) · ca solemne (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · ru торже́ственный (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · ru свято́й (religious in nature — see also sacred) · ru мра́чный (cheerless, gloomy, sombre — see also cheerless, gloomy, sombre) · pt solene (characterized by or performed with appropriate or great ceremony or formality) · bg сериозен (deeply serious and sombre) · ro solemn (inspiring serious feelings or thoughts; sombrely impressive) · gd sòlaimte (religious in nature — see also sacred) · sh свѐчан (of or pertaining to religious ceremonies and rites) · mk впе́чатлив (inspiring serious feelings or thoughts; sombrely impressive) · af ernstig (deeply serious and sombre) · fi vaikuttava (inspiring serious feelings or thoughts; sombrely impressive) · bg впечатляващ (inspiring serious feelings or thoughts; sombrely impressive)